Head and shoulder rest or support for couch and other hammocks.



I. E. PALMER.

HEAD AND SHOULDER REST 0R SUPPORT FOR COUCH AND OTHER HAMMOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE16,1910. 9?2,'? 12, Patented Oct. 1.1, 1910.

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' I. B. PALMER. HEAD AND SHOULDER REST OR SUPPORT FOR COUCH AND OTHER HAMMOGKS.

APPLICATION FILED 111N216, 1910. 9723M. Patented 00c. 11, 1910.

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[river Liar.- saacEPatme I. E. PALMER. HEAD AND SHOULDER REST OR SUPPORT FOR COUCH AND OTHER HAMMOGKS. 972 1 2.

APPLIOAQIO'N IILBD JUNE 16, 1910.

' Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

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ISAAC E. PALMER, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE 1. E. PALMER, CO., OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

7 HEAD AND SHOULDER BEST 03 SUPPORT FOR COUCH AND OTHER HAMMOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 191% Application filed June 16, 1910. Serial No. 567,123.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middletown, in the county of ivliddlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Head and Shoulder Rests or Supports for Couch and other Hammocks,- of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to head and shoulder rests or supports for couch and other hammocks and is in part a division of my co-pending application No. 547,637, filed ll'ltll't'll 7, 1910, and is in its entirety a continuation thereof.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed certain embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a couch hammock embodying my invention; F 2 is a detail on a larger scale of a portion of and 41 are side elevations of the head end of a couch hammock showing the head support flat upon the bridy of the hammock; Fig. 5 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of a slightly modified form of my invention; Fig. (3 is a detail showing the manner of attaching to the head suspension end the form of head support shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view, and Fig.1 8 is a side elevation of a head support of a less length than the body portion of the hammock; Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively a plan view partially broken away and a partial side elevation of a slightly modified form of my invention; Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are perspective views of additional forms of my invention; Fig. 14; is a side elevation partially 1n section showing my invention applied to a hammock in which the'body passes under end cross bars; and Fig. 15 is a detail showing means for maintaining the hammock body transversely taut.

Couch hammocks have been provided with frames, oneend of which may be adjusted at an inclination to the remainder thereof,

so as to support the head and shoulders in,

inclined position, such, for example, as shown in UQS. Patent to Draper, No. 906,120, December 8, 1908.

My present invention relates to attachments for couch and other hammocks or other suspended structures adapted to sup-. port the head and shoulders of the user in inclined position, said attachment being structurally separate from the frame of the so couch hammock and being in the preferred embodiment thereof an attachment; to be readily applied to the couch or other hammock. In certain embodiments of the invention, and when used with a couch hammock,

this attachment serves as a combined head support and mattress cover and may be employed for either purpose or for both purposes conjointly.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and first to that form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to t inclusive, the body portion of a couch hammock to which my invention may be applied, is shown at 1, a.

portion of the frame at 2, the/ suspension ends at. 3--3 and their spreaders at 44-. The said suspension ends are preferably of cloth and therefore are flexible and may yield relatively to and longitudinally of the frame or body portion of the hammock when In Figs. 1, 3 and 1, the head support is represented at 7 and in this form of my in vention constitutes also a mattress cover. Said support is composed of a strip of suit able flexible material and preferably in nature similar to that constituting the hammock body. It is provided with suitable means for attaching it, preferably detach-- ably, to the head suspension end. Preferably I provide a series'of hooks .8 of metal bent into the shape-shown and adapted to straddle the spreader 4. Each hook is provided With an eye 9, to which is attached the head support 7 .in any suitable manner, as by means of links 10 engaging eyes 11secured at suitable points along the spreader.l05

12 in a hem or pocket 13 at the end of said support. If desired, said support may have attached thereto a suitable pillow 1s. l

have also indicated a second spreader 15 i applled to said head support belo the pil- 10 The body portion of the hammock re- 85 I have notlow 1%. It is, of course, evident that more .than one pillow may be attached to or emtucked in if desired between the foot suspensionend and the end of the mattress.

In use the hammock occupant lies upon the strip 7, and his body holds the same in the position shown so as to support his head and shoulders at a suitable inclination, which it is evident may be varied as desired. If it be not desired to use the strip 7 as a means for supporting the head and shoulders in inclined position, the hooks 8 may be detached from the head suspension end 3 and the head end of the strip may be folded as shown in Figs. 3 or 4 with the pillow is above or below the body of the ,trip, so asto serve as the usual pillow. It will be observed. that the strip 7 is of such iength as to extend from the foot suspension to the spreader 4 oi the head suspension end, or sufiiciently close thereto to be p The strip 7 is attached to the edge suspension end 3 at a suitable number of points transversely therc of and contacts therewith at a number of points along the same, and in the use of the attachment it yields with t :e yielding movement of toe head suspension end. In other words, the swinging movements of the'head suspension end 3 are partaken of by said attachment, so that the head and shoulders of the user are supported in easy and comfortable position at all times.

the head support may be suspended from 'u suspension end 3 of the hammock by at caching it in any suitable manner and the support itsel may be varied in character. In Fig. 5, l have represented a head support 1 having attached thereto three pillows 18, 19, 20, the pillow being particularly intended to receive thehips of the user to prevent him sliding along the hammock, which might occur owing to the inclined position of his head and shoulders, were not some suitable pillow or other projection provided. in this form of the invention the upper end oi' the strip 17 is provided wnh spread r 21 adapted to be attached to the head suspei'ision end by means of holtsQZ which may he laced in any one of the holes suspended therefrom.

223 shown in Fig. (3, thereby providing for suitable ve." .l. adpistment of ti e attachn or type of my invention having nip receiving pillow. is peculiarly adapted to hammocks not of the couch type. The head support 26 shown in 7 and 8 is preferahly similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4; inclusive, excepting for the fact that it is of materially less length than the hammock body and does not in this case serve as a mattress cover. It is pro 'ided with a pillow 527 at its upper end and with a pillow 28 at its lower end, the function whereof is similar to the pillow 20 shown in Fig. The length of the support shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is preferably sufficient for the reception of the entire person of the user from thehips upward, so that the weight of the occupantwill hold the head support in place as previously described. As already stated, this form or type of my invention having the hip-receiving pillow is peculiarly adapted to hammocks not of the couch type. Within the scope of my invention the strip is used also as a mattress cover and may be positively attached to the foot suspension end in any suitable manner, as for example by lacing 28 shown in Figs. 9 and 10 as passing through gromet eyes 28 in the foot suspension end and in the end of the strip 28". Ordinarily it is suiiicient to provide the foot end of the said cover with a spreader which may be tucked in as described at the end of the mattress, but such spreader may be omitted.

In Fig. 11, I have shown a simple form of my invention wherein the couch hammock is of the usual structure, such as indicated in Fig. 1. I apply thereto a strip 29 which itself may be a hammock body provided at.

its ends with the usual Spreaders 30 and suspension cords 31. It will be apparent that one end of this supplemental hammock 29 may be attached to the support 32 from which the head end of the couch hammock is suspended, in which event the supplemental hammock serves as a head support and also as mattress cover. The foot end of the supplemental hammock may be rolled up at the foot end of thecouch hammock.

In Fig. 12, I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention wherein the mattress 33 is itself provided with means such as cords 3e and hooks 35 for supporting the head end in inclined position in a manner similar to that shown in 1. In this form of my invention. the mattress may if desired be provided with a reinforcing bottom, to which the cords are attached.

In Fig. 13, l have shown a slightly modified form of the invention and differing from that form shown in S 8, mainly in that I-have provided means positively to attach the foot end of the head support 36 to a couch hammock. For this purpose, I may provide any suitable means, such, for example, pins 37 to engage any suitable holes 38 provided in the .rame 39 of the hammock. The holes may he so arranged as to permit longitudinal adjustment of the irl It will be apparent from the foregoing depeople,

a mattress cover only, or both functions may be utilized conjointly. The weight of the occupant holds the head support in inclined position and the angle of inclination may be varied in an obvious manner. It is, of course, evident that 1 may employ pillows distinct from the head support and placed for example underneath the same to be received at the small of the back.

lit is, of course, obvious that my invention may be applied to various types of couch or other hammocks. It is unnecessary to illustrate all the types of hammocks to which the invention may be applied, but in Fig. 14 I have represented the so-called Utopia hammock. The frame is provided with side members l-O and end members 40' and with brackets 41 in whichlarc seated end cross rods 42. The hammock body 43 overliesthe 'frame and passes under said end cross bars and thence to the points of support. The

upstanding ends 44 are therefore unitary with the body 43. The head support is shown at 45 and is preferably substantially similar to that shown in Fig' 1. It is herein represented as formed of suitable fabric or other flexible material and provided at its upper end with a spreader 46, to which hooks e7, straddling the spreader 48 of the suspension end, are connected by links 49. Preferably the pillow 50 is secured to the support. Preferably the head support is sewed or otherwise attached to the hammock body as indicated at 51. This headsupport may be of any desired length, but need not extend substantially beyond the'point of union with the body 43. If desired, however, the lower end of the head support'need not be attached to but may merely rest upon the body 43. When the hooks 47 have been detached from the suspension end 44, the head support 45 may be positioned flat upon the hammock body and the pillow 50 would then lie fiatwise upon the body, the spreader 46, links 49 and hooks 47 being tucked .in between the suspension end and the pillow.

I contemplate the provision of means not claimed in this application for maintaining.

laterally taut couch hammocks in which the body overlies the frame, as in. the Utopia hammock. In such case, I provide movable members 52 pivoted at :53 to and adjacent each end of each side bar 40. These members are. preferably metallic and are of'any suitable form. They are intended; when turned into a substantially upright position to be inserted into pockets or hems 54 formed in or applied to the lateral edges of the hammock body near the ends of the frame.

After these members have been inserted in l i i the pockets they are folded down and so lie flat against the frame. Preferably they extend substantially to or even beyond the end members 40 of the frame and so hold transversely taut the hammock body at the ends. This insures the proper position of the lateral edges of the body from end to end of the frame. This hammock body tensioning means may be employed with or without the head rest.

The support herein disclosed and particularly that form thereof having a should-er supporting pillow, or both a shoulder supporting pillow and a body supporting or bracing pillow to be positioned at the hips 'of the hammock occupant, may be applied to hammocks not of the couch hammock type by attaching the support to such ordinary hammock at or adjacent the suspension end thereof. Such support may be employed in conjunction with the ordinary pillow attached to and forming a part of the ordinary hammock to support the head of the occupant.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. A head and shoulder rest or support for an ordinary couch hammock or the like having an upright head end and a substantially flat body portion, said rest or support consisting of a cloth strip having means for suspending the same at the head suspension end of the hai'nmock, said strip extending at a downward inclination beneath the head and shoulders of the occupant, and along the substantially fiat body portion of the hammock and terminating between the hips and knees of the user, whereby said support may be held in place by the body of the user.

i). A headirest or support for a couch hammock having portion and upright suspension ends, said rest or support being adapted to extendat a downward inclination beneath the head and shoulders of the user, said support having along its upper portion hooks flexibly connected thereto to engage said head suspension end.

A head rest or support for a couch hammock having a substantially flat body portion and upright suspension ends, said rest or support being adapted to extend at a downward inclination beneath the head and shoulders of the user, said support having hooks pivoted along transversely thereof, whereby it may be suspended along said head suspension end.

4. A head rest or support for a couch hammock having a substantially flat body a substantially flat body" its upper portion 'tion thereof, and means for holding said portion and upright suspension ends, whereof the head suspension end has at its upper edge a transverse spreader, said rest or support being adapted to extend at a downward inclination beneath the head and shoulders of the user and inverted U-shaped hooks attached at transverse intervals along the upper portion of said rest or support and adapted to fit snugly over said spreader and brace the support in position.

5. A head rest or support for a couch hammock having a substantially flat body portion and upright suspension ends, said rest or support being adapted to extend at a downward inclination beneath the head and shoulders of the user, said support having along its upper portion suspension hooks and links connecting said hooks to said support.

6. A head and shoulder rest or support for couch or other hammocks or the like, said rest 01; support being composed of a substantially plane flexible body having means for suspending the same adjacent the head suspension end of a hammock, so as to extend at a downward inclination beneath the head and shoulders of the user when lying upon the hammock, said rest or support extending suihciently along and in can tact With the body-receiving portion of the hammock to receive thereon the hips of the user, whereby said rest or support may be held in place uponthe body-receiving portion of the hammock merely by the body of the user, the foot end of said rest or support normally having longitudinal play along the hammock, to vary the angle of inclination of the rest or support or the position of said foot-end. i

7. A head and shoulder rest or support for a couch hammock having a substantially fiat body portion and upright suspension ends, said rest or support extending from the head suspension end of the hammock at a downward inclination beneath the head and shoulders of the user-to and having longitudinal play along said flatbody portion, said rest or supporthaving a transverse spreader extending along its upper end por tion closely adjacent the head-receiving porspreader in substantially fixedrelation'with respect to said. head suspension end adja cent the head of the user.

8. A head and shoulder rest or support for an ordinary couch hammock having an upright head end and a substantially flat body portion, said rest or support consisting of a substantially plane head and shoulderreceiving strip having means for suspending the same at the head suspension end of said ordinary couch hammock without special construction ofsaid hammock, and extend ing in use at a downward inclination heneath the head and shouldersof the user,

the lower end of said support normally having longitudinal play along the fiat body portion of the hannnock, whereby said support may, in periods of non-use, be positioned vertically at and against the inner face of the head suspension end of the ordinary couch hammock, and in periods of use be adjusted at varying angles to the couch hammock head end.

9. A head and shoulder rest or support for a couch or other hammock consisting of a flexible strip having atits head end means for suspending the same at the head suspension end of the hammock, said strip being substantially plane throughout its extent and extending at a downward angle to the fiat or body receiving portion of the hammock and having fixed thereto a hip-receiving bracing pillo v, said strip and pillow being adjustable to varying positions and hold in adjusted position by the body of the user engaging said pillow.

10. An attachment for ordinary couch hammocks having a flat bocy portion and upright suspension ends, said atiaehment' consisting of a head and shoulder-supporting strip extending at a downward inclination beneath the head and shoulders of the user, said strip iaving means adjacent the head-receiving portion thereof for securing the upper end of the same fiatwise against the inner face or" the head suspension end of such ordinary'couch hammock in substantially fixed relation thereto, the lower end of said support normally extending to the flat. portion of the hammock and having longitudinal play along the same, whereby said support may be readily applied to and removed from the head suspension means and adjusted at varying angles to an ordinary couch hammock Without modification of the latter.

11. An attachment for ordinary couch hammocks having a fiat i the head and shoulders of the u cloth strip hzr ng means adjacent the-h supporting portion thereof en the upper end of the same at the l pension end of said i mock and in subs fixed said head su pe e Q 5 id cloth strip norm" a flat portion it ii a having long I .l )lay l H whereby said cloth Strip ma it plied to and removed from its the head suspension end of cloth hammock and adjusted angles with relation to ii tron without modificat on ot 1d nainm ck.

12. A flexible head and sho .ider

support. for a couch hammock having a i amt; providing a substantially fiat body portion and upright suspension ends, said rest or support being a substantially plane strip suspended directly and Wholly from the head suspension means of such couch hammock, said head and shoulder rest extending at a downward inclination to the fiat body portion of the hammock so as to receive thereon the head and shoulders of the user and permit the limbs to be extended along the flat body portion of the hannnoclt,

said rest or support having means for suspending the same at the head suspension end, 1d suspension means being readily detachable from "the point 0t SHSPCDSIOD,

and said rest (ii-"support being, when detached, positionable l'lHlZWlSQ along the fiat [body portion or" the hammock so as to exi l l tend from the base of said flexible head suspending end llatwise along and in contact with the same beneath the body of the haminoeks occupant Without presenting obstructions thereto, said rest or support having; longitudinal play along said flat portion of the hammock for presenting different :uljustments to the head and shoulders of the user.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ISAAC E. PALMER.

Witnesses:

J FRED. E. FOWLER,

GEO. O. HATNS. 

